Villa test can show if we’re on the up, says Ramage

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The 24-year-old joined Rangers on a free transfer from Newcastle and has featured in six of the club's seven opening league games as they look to climb their way out of the Championship.

With rich backers Lakshmi Mittal, Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone comes an expectation of success but after an encouraging start to the season, Ramage wants to meet that pressure head on at Villa Park tonight.

"Aston Villa obviously go into the game as favourites," he said.

"But we can go there and judge ourselves on how far we've come in the first few months and see where we need to be to compete against the top teams.

"Villa are one of the best in the Premier League and with all this talk about us as promotion contenders, it's a great chance to see how far behind or on track we are.

"Hopefully we can nick a result. They are fighting on a few fronts with Europe so we might catch them on a bad night."

Despite so much focus on satisfying the star-studded board's thirst for Premier League football, Ramage insists the anticipation is not any different from what he experienced in Tyneside.

He added: "Everyone here wants to get promoted and it's a lot like the pressure of trying to break into the top four of the Premier League at Newcastle.

"It's almost an impossible task to do that given the strength of the top four but they live in hope they can do it and we are living in hope we can join the teams in the Premier League.

"Kevin Keegan offered me another year at Newcastle and very kindly kept that offer open while I talked to other clubs.

"QPR had the ambition and the infrastructure, plus they were offering me first team football so, in the end, it was the right decision to move.

"But just as at Newcastle, we are trying to get into the unknown. I know QPR were in the Premier League a while ago but it's a whole different ball game now.

"We have got to try and match the board's ambition. We've done that so far and, hopefully, we can carry it on."